title: Comparative efficacy of long-acting bronchodilators for COPD: a network meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinicians are faced with an increasingly difficult choice regarding the optimal bronchodilator for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) given the number of new treatments. The objective of this study is to evaluate the comparative efficacy of indacaterol 75/150/300 μg once daily (OD), glycopyrronium bromide 50 μg OD, tiotropium bromide 18 μg/5 μg OD, salmeterol 50 μg twice daily (BID), formoterol 12 μg BID, and placebo for moderate to severe COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty randomized controlled trials were combined in a Bayesian network meta-analysis. Outcomes of interest were trough and post-dose forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score and responders (≥4 points), and Transition Dyspnea Index (TDI) score and responders (≥1 point) at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indacaterol was associated with a higher trough FEV1 than other active treatments (difference for indacaterol 150 μg and 300 μg versus placebo: 152 mL (95% credible interval (CrI): 126, 179); 160 mL (95% CrI: 133, 187)) and the greatest improvement in SGRQ score (difference for indacaterol 150 μg and 300 μg versus placebo: -3.9 (95% CrI -5.2, -2.6); -3.6 (95% CrI -4.8, -2.3)). Glycopyrronium and tiotropium 18 μg resulted in the next best estimates for both outcomes with minor differences (difference for glycopyrronium versus tiotropium for trough FEV1 and SGRQ: 18 mL (95% CrI: -16, 51); -0.55 (95% CrI: -2.04, 0.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of trough FEV1 and SGRQ score indacaterol, glycopyrronium, and tiotropium are expected to be the most effective bronchodilators.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Science, St George's University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK. pjones@sgul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Donohue
authors.forename: Jeroen P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Gorana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capkun-Niggli
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Felicity
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006024:Glycopyrrolate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D007189:Indans; D015363:Quinolones; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; C510790:indacaterol; D000420:Albuterol; D006024:Glycopyrrolate; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide